Cathy wrote a lovely obituary for him.

In 1936, a Bulgarian-American woman, Rosie Oxner gave birth to William Oxner at home alongside her husband, Bryant Oxner, and her son, Marco. Siblings Louise and Mary Rose would later arrive. The family share-cropped cotton. They lived in a tent one year and lacked electricity for the first decade of Bill’s life. They would later save enough money to buy their own farm.

Bill became captain of the basketball team and valedictorian of his high school—in a class of four people. He went to college and then medical school on scholarship. But then he shot himself in the foot, by which I mean, he literally shot himself in the foot while climbing a fence without his shotgun breached. It doesn’t get much more Southern than this.

Bill loved his nieces and nephews, Mark, Greg, Stan, Scott, and Glenda.

Bill took a job managing regional grocery store account sales for Warner Lambert, purveyor of Schick razors, Listerine, and Benadryl. He lived in the Sin City Neighborhood in Houston where he and his friend Robert Hyatt met Paulette R. at the pool. Bill started dating Paulette. They also befriended Lorelei Sullivan, Barbara and Bubba Wade, John, Bob, Evelyn, and Virginia Hillegeist, Bo and Charlotte Kennon, Wayne Angle, Ron and Kiki Paschall, and so many more.

Paulette broke up with Bill when he wouldn’t marry her. He later popped up from behind the couch after she came home from a date. He proposed. They got married in Galveston, Texas. Robert Hyatt married Paulette’s roommate, Donna.

The company moved Bill to New Orleans where Paulette gave birth to Cathy, this obituary’s narrator. Bill dropped Paulette off at the hospital saying that there was no reason for two people to lose a night’s sleep. He made up it for it later sharing in all the diaper changing and doing all the nail trimming and bathing himself—and a whole lot of other things too.

The family returned to Houston and then Richmond, and Bill hunted or fished every weekend. He kept his guns in a locked case and believed passionately in gun control and campaign finance reform until the day he died.

He also cooked everything he caught—for everyone all the time. Bill loved to garden and to cook. Everyone loved his Trout Meuniere and his fish fries. He and Cathy loved the fried oysters the best. For some of his last meals, he ate fried oysters and another favorite, beef enchiladas.

Bill often prank-called Cathy’s friends—he would pretend to be Santa Claus or a Leprechaun. He would get down on his knees at the movie theatre and ask for two children’s tickets. He hung up every phone call between 30 seconds and three minutes without saying goodbye. Whenever the pond froze over, he took Cathy in the rowboat to pretend they were exploring the Arctic.

He would later befriend so many neighbors—all of whom he loved—so many that I fear to mention them all and then accidentally leave someone important out. But he became close with his neighbor Sarah and her children near the end of his life.

Bill hired famed trial lawyer, Elliot Tucker, and sued Warner Lambert at a jury trial and won. He then retired early to fish and take his bird dogs on field trials. His dogs performed well—at least one was a national finalist. He loved dogs so much—and he forced the family to watch Beverly Hills Chihuahua multiple times.

The family all loved to read and watch movies. Bill had a condition known as alexithymia that prevented him from seeing emotions. But he empathized deeply with book characters and felt compassion for others when he was able to understand them. He tried to give money away to every homeless person he ever saw and sometimes gave money away to people whom he mistook for homeless when he misread the situation.

He lost Paulette to cancer in 2013. He later gained a son-in-law, Nicholas Baynham. Nick and Cathy ultimately realized that many of Bill’s behaviors were consistent with the autism spectrum.

In 2021, a doctor diagnosed Bill with Parkinson’s. After a bad fall, he came to live with Cathy and Nick in Macon, Georgia where Cathy was a tenured law professor and program director. His adaptive Yoga instructor, Linda, home care professional, Jessica, lawn professional, Josh, and care professionals, Derrick, Tasheila, Alisha, and Cora all became friends.

After a doctor diagnosed Cathy with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, the family moved to Laguna Niguel, California to be close to her medical care. They took Bill to eat his favorite meals by the ocean, at the beach, and in the park. He rode the Dana Point Trolley around town. The family cat, Miss Kitty, purred on his bed, and he smiled and said, “She’s kind of great.” His little Yorkie, Muffin, still sniffed around his bedside.

He went to greet his departed pets, wife, and loved ones on the rainbow bridge on August 22, 2024.

The immediate family and anyone present will hold a small remembrance ceremony in Laguna Niguel. The family requests that friends in the Houston area, Rose-Rich/Katy-Fulshear area, and Surfside area contact Rhiannon at killamonster@gmail.com regarding the memorial in the Katy-Fulshear area.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that people support one of the charities Bill supported:

1. American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals https://secure.aspca.org/donate/ps-...ZE1cCD8xb8aAohXEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
2. Autism Self-Advocacy Network https://secure.everyaction.com/uEXr_TqeBkqmQMlvi7itXg2
3. Sandy Hook Promise https://takeaction.sandyhookpromise.org/a/foundation?amtOpts=25,50,100,250,500,1000&_ga=2.180514979.549599435.1724183805-15058814.1724183805
4. Community Foundation of Lee County, Arkansas c/o Lucy Smith, 130 Roberston, Marianna, AR 72360 leecounty@arcf.org

RIP, Bill.

Rest in Peace my friend you will be missed.

RIP sir!

Well, dang! Hate to hear he’s gone.

Prayers sent for Mr. Oxner

R.I.P. Sir.

Nothing about bird hunting, his passion as well?

Sandy hook?

RIP

Rip Bill

RIP Bill. You are missed.

One of a kind

Well dangit, he was a goodun... Enjoyed watchin folks get Oxnered.

Oxner was a neat guy...and genuine too.

RIP Mr. Oxner.

Bill loved his dogs. RIP Bill

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, your pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water, and sunshine, and friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who have been ill and old are restored to health and strength, those who were hurt are made better and strong again, like we remember them before they go to heaven. They are happy and content except for one small thing, they each miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance, his bright eyes are shineing (sic), his body shakes. Suddenly he begins to run from the herd, rushing over the grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cuddle in a happy hug never to be apart again. You and your pet are in tears. Your hands again cuddle his head and you look again into his trusting eyes, so long gone from life, but never absent from your heart, and then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together.
The Rainbow Bridge
By Edna Clyne-Rekhy

RIP Mr. Oxner

Today, we've all been Oxnered. RIP and enjoy all the bird dogs up there.

Rest easy Mr Oxner, you were one of a kind.

We will miss you bill!

RIP sir.

Interesting her mentioning gun control and her father suing his employer to retire early in his obituary.

RIP good sir, rest easy.

"He kept his guns in a locked case and believed passionately in gun control and campaign finance reform until the day he died"?

I never heard him ever say anything about campaign finance reform. Gun Control what does that mean?

RIP Bill